Liverpool’s rising star and departing legend combined to ease the pressure on Arne Slot as goals from teenager Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah beat Fulham 2-0, snapping the Reds’ three-game losing streak on Saturday.
Salah failed to get on the pitch at all during Liverpool’s chastening 2-0 Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.
Slot insisted he was reserving the 33-year-old’s energy for when his side enjoyed more of the ball after being starved of possession by the European champions.
Salah responded to mark his first Anfield appearance since announcing he will leave at the end of the season with a first home goal in the Premier League for over five months.
Andy Robertson also announced his departure this week after nine glorious years at the club.
But if those exits had Liverpool fans longing for the days when Jurgen Klopp’s side were at their peak, Ngumoha gave hope for the future.
The 17-year-old has been handled conservatively by Slot despite showing his capability with a late winner in the second game of the season at Newcastle.
